Concert Review & Analysis

Jazz Performance Review The author of this report has been asked to take in a jazz show and offer some information and opinion about it. The venue and artists involved will be named. There will also be other questions answered like whether the music was moving to the author, whether it was accessible or "far out," whether it was emotional or cerebral and whether the author liked the music or not. Overall, the performance taken in was very positive and high-energy and the author was not remotely disappointed.

While jazz is not embraced or loved by everyone, the author of this report holds it to be a great musical form and one that all people should at least try to glom onto if they're seeking enrichment and entertainment. Performance Information Before getting into the reactions to the performance, the author will explain the details about the show. The name of the venue was Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. The venue is located in the larger Jazz at Lincoln Center Complex.

The performers for the show were Evan Christopher on clarinet, Brian Seeger on guitar and Jacob Webb on the bass. The theme of the show was the clarinet-based jazz tradition that started in New Orleans and then changed and evolved from that location. The room that the show occurred in was a dinner and a show type of place. People were enjoying dinner and drinks as the show went on. The bass and the guitar were stationary for the show but the clarinetist (Christopher) was standing.

He would step around a bit from time to time and stay standing in a singular spot other times. He would very much move with the music. He would spin in place, lean, bend his knees and so forth. Although the clarinet was clearly the focus of the show, an early focus/solo of sorts was given to the bassist. He would alternate from simple strumming to a bit of slapping the bass for some notes. Between songs, Christopher would offer some information and historical perspective about the music.

After one of his early speeches, the focus clearly shifted to the clarinet as the bassist and the guitarist were clearly playing supporting roles. The music about 9-10 minutes into the show was very much lower-key. The beat was slower and the energy was subdued. However, the clarinet eventually ceded to the bassist and the guitar and they had their own time to offer a similar yet different tone. This part had a good amount of energy but it was focused and potent. It was relaxing and very moving.

It hearkens to having fun, having a relaxing moment and having fun with friends. As the clarinet comes back in, there is a very "funky" tone to the music. It is very non-formulaic and it is hard to predict .. and that's a good thing. It is by means bland or boring. The assignment mentions the word "cerebral" and this music would certainly clarify as that. The music, at least to the author of this response, does not break new ground but it is extremely adept at engendering good feelings.

It is mood-making or mood-enhancing music more than anything else. At the same time, it is complex and the listener is apt to pay attention and see what is coming next. All of the instruments have their proverbial time to shine, the bass and clarinet in particular. As for the players themselves, it is clear the players are in sync and they all are obviously enjoying what they are doing. The bassist and clarinetist in particular are really into the music.

They bob and move their bodies with the music as they play. The guitarist is less so but that is mostly because he was fully seated. There were even some verbal outbursts throughout the music. They were not mindless or over-the-top and they seamlessly blended with what else was going on. There are three clear modes while the music goes on.

There are times where one instrument is clearly the focus (if not the only one playing), there are times when they are all playing but doing their own thing and there are times where they are all contributing to the same melody. The guitarist is clearly the least prominent of the three but the clarinet and bass each shine a lot in their own right at different parts. One very obvious thing that stuck out happened about twenty minutes into the show.

The bass was basically doing its normal thing but was also used as a percussion instrument as Webb would slap the instrument like he was banging a drum in some instances. Just as with the other elements of the show, it was not obnoxious or extremely out of place except that is obviously not how most string instruments are played. There is the term "slapping the bass" but Webb was doing so in a fairly unique and prominent way as compared to what the author has usually seen with bassists ..

acoustic or electric. The music is very accessible and easy to enjoy. It is not really something that most people should find improper or hard to like. Sure, not everyone likes jazz but just about anyone who has an affinity for string instruments or jazz in general would like this show. The author of this report knows that saxophones and trumpets get a lot of the fanfare and perhaps the clarinet is an unsung hero when it comes to jazz.

However, this show would go a long way in changing anyone's mind about what instrument(s) are best for jazz. The author of this report loved the show and really cannot say anything negative about.